The papers of John P. Maertz are divided into 2 series: Papers and Photographs.
Papers (1942-1945) consists almost entirely of correspondence between Maertz and girlfriend La Verne Tramitz, who he married in June 1943. The letters written by John describe his training in various stateside airfields from 1942 through 1943, including his duties developing photographs, his anticipation for their wedding, and his love for her. Letters written from Europe reflect his awareness of censorship and revealed few specific details about his service. He wrote about seeing movies, the frequency with which he received letters and packages from home, his feelings for La Verne, and vague comments about his duties as a photographer. La Verne's letters to John describe happenings at home, including her work in a factory supporting the war effort. She shares her love for John, her hopes that he would be home soon, and news about family and friends. Two letters written to John from Pastor Charles Piel discuss Maertz's pending conversion from Catholicism to Lutheranism for his marriage to La Verne. Also included are two small diaries kept by Maertz during his service. They include small written descriptions about daily activities. The first diary, which spans 1942 to 1943, contains much longer descriptions of his stateside training and his wedding. The second diary, which covers his service in Europe, is less descriptive and often only mentions packages and letters received or sent. No mention is made of his thoughts about Buchenwald, though he does write his feelings about V-E Day.
Photographs (1942-1945) contain numerous snapshots taken by Maertz during his stateside and European service. There are pictures of Maertz in uniform, both individually and in group shots. A wedding photograph shows La Verne with a wedding dress made partially of parachute material. More than a dozen photographs depict the German concentration camp Buchenwald after its liberation by Allied soldiers. Shots show torture victims, emaciated corpses, and some survivors. A booklet contains photographs showing the duties performed by Maertz's unit, the 9th Bombardment Division (Medium), during the war in Europe. Several scrapbook pages contain shots from basic training and other photographs show Maertz at his first stateside assignment in Pocatello, Idaho. Pictures show Maertz's fellow servicemen engaging in recreational activities including various parties, a tour of the Meuse River put on by the Red Cross, and a rest camp in Belgium. Uniformed soldiers, both individually and in groups, can be seen while stateside and in Europe.
